I do love the round-ups in the press showcasing the best books of the year and for the last few years Iāve been sharing my most memorable reads on Instagram. So, Iām launching my new Substack with a compilation of my favourite books I read in 2023. Iām not a book reviewer, just a bit of a book worm, and I love recommending books to my friends and family. Hereās 12 books that struck a chord with me last year.
1. The Guest by Emma Cline (Vintage)
Emma Cline is possibly the coolest and most exciting writer around (in my view). She creates interesting and unusual female characters and The Guest followsĀ a young woman surviving a week in The Hamptons. Itās dazzling. āļøš Thereās lots of technical things about her writing that makes it brilliant. She strips away all back story and you only see and experience whatās happening in the moment through the characterās eyes giving her work a very cinematic feel.
2. Kick the Latch by Kathryn Scanlan (Daunt Books)
This is a gem. š Kathryn Scanlan is another very exciting writer. She has a specificity to her writing that is precise, succinct and just brilliant. š Kick the Latch is written in vignettes (each with a brilliant title) and is based on interviews with Sonia a horse trainer. Scanlan gives voice to the jockeys, trainers, racing secretaries, stewards, pony people, everybody in the horse world. I was totally immersion into a world I knew nothing about.
3. The Rachel Incident by Caroline Oā Donoghue (Little, Brown Books)
I absolutely loved this. So much so that I ticked off a bookseller about why it was tucked away on the shelf out of sight when all these mediocre books were out on display. š Itās funny and sad and just brilliant. Rachel is such a relatable character and the story is kind of coming of age, as her and her best friend make their way after university. Lots of people know Caroline Oā Donoghue for her hit Sentimental Garbage podcast and sheās also a scriptwriter. āļø
4. North Woods by Daniel Mason (John Murray Press)
I would never have picked this up if it werenāt for Katie Claphamās brilliant Substack. I found her via her love of Kick the Latch too. North Woods is an immersive big story thatās reads like interlinking short stories, all set around a house in New England.Ā
5. Trespasses by Louise Kennedy (Bloomsbury)
I read this back in January but Iām still thinking about it. Itās described as a love story in the troubles - set in 1970s Belfast. Louise Kennedy is great at the small details that brings the writing alive. āļøĀ
6. Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano (Penguin Books)
This started so well and has the feel of a big family drama but I did find it tapered off a bit. But itās still a good, addictive read and I couldnāt put it down for the first part. The cover is lovely too. šš§”
7. Conversations on Love by Natasha Lunn (Penguin Books)
If youāre interested in relationships or love Esther Perel then this is a must read. Thereās so many illuminating conversations and insights packed into this book. My one non fiction pick this year.
8. Close to Home by Michael Magee (Vintage)
Another great contemporary Irish book. All the best writing is coming out of Ireland āļø at the moment. I loved that it gave a manās perspective on coming of age, finding oneās placeĀ in the world. Itās very thoughtful and beautifully written.Ā Magee is an exciting new voice and I canāt wait to read more of his work.
9. Cleopatra and Frankenstein by CocoĀ Mellors (Harper Collins)
This is another very cool, sassy read about a couple in New York. I love the way Coco Mellors writesĀ - sheās also a scriptwriter so itās fast paced, great dialogue and lots of sex!Ā Perfect for holidays.
10. In Memorium by Alice Winn (Penguin Books)
A WW1 story - donāt yawn as this is brilliant and was picked as Waterstones Novel of the Year 2023. Itās totally immersive and I was gripped by the love story set in the trenches and public school of WW1 Britain. Alice Winn is an exciting new writer and another script writer (thereās a trend here!)Ā
11. For thy great pain have mercy on my little pain by Victoria Mackenzie (Bloomsbury)
I donāt tend to read much historical fiction as prefer books set in the present moment, so this dual story of two women set in medieval times is something totally different. Itās a completely unique and unusual book, and a window into the 13th century. Victoria Mackenzie brings two voices alive in a really immersive and mesmerising way.
12. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (Vintage)
Itās a million copy bestseller and a bit of marmite book but I sped through it on holiday and really enjoyed it. The characters are great and the love triangle / best friends storyline really appealed. I also do love stories set in the workplace and the details of the āhard workā of creating games worked well. Itās for all ages and I think it would be enjoyed by teens too.Ā
Have you read any of these? What were your favourite books last year?
I loved The Rachel Incident and canāt stop myself from recommending it to everyone I know. I agree with your comments on Tomorrow X3 and Hello Beautiful. I thought The Guest was well written, but I didnāt feel any sense of connection with the main character.
My favourites from 2023 were How to Build a Boat by Elaine Feeney (Irish!) and Stealing by Margaret Verble.